Thiago

I saw life flashing before my eyes. I saw her almost being murdered right in front of me. Then I saw him leaving with her, keeping me at gunpoint. And now she is gone.

"Fucking asshole," I curse and shoot towards the madding crowd to prevent being run over, then make my way to one of the bodies in search of a functioning phone. After some effort, I find one on a dead guy. It's in fucking Chinese but I manage to make a call.

"Yo, T, where are you? Me and Bruno thought you were in a sex marathon after your romantic date."

"Davi, shut the fuck up and listen. Come here as fast as possible with a squad. It's one of Moreira's warehouses. Be quick. I will send you the location."

"Hey, what happened?"

"Move!" I scream and shoot him the coordinates. It will take at least an hour for them to be here; till Davi is crawling from whatever hole he is right now, till he assembled the guys and till they get here.

There are so many injured people around. We will manage to make at least some arrests and so much cocaine and other drugs spread through what's left of the building that it will certainly make the news. Now I only need to concentrate on surviving and maybe making a capture till they are here. And after I am done with all this I will take care of him.

The goddamn maniac took off with my girlfriend. Why? What if he hurts her? Maybe he didn't do anything at the party because there were too many witnesses but he still wants to. And this, this was the perfect occasion. These are supposedly his allies. But then why did he let the whole damn building fall all over them? This guy is so infuriating and strange and I let him take her. Fuck.

But there were four guns directed at me; I would only have died in vain otherwise. And if he wanted to kill her he would have shot her in the head right then and there. But he probably wants to take his sweet time or he doesn't want to do any of these things.

There is also the weird possibility that he has been sincere all along. Looking at it objectively, taking his advice and not messing with the lunatic Moreira would have been the better call.

Can it be? Can he actually... like her? That's unlikely. She fucking shot him. But then why would he do what he has just done?

The injured people around are overwhelming but nobody is calling an ambulance. Everyone is more preoccupied with saving the drugs. Mauro is exiting on a side door that is still standing. He is bleeding from a wound on his head and one on his torso. Serves you right, asshole.

Then finally the police sirens sound and everyone panics once again. The guys that are helping Mauro stand are hurrying to a car. Not if I can help it.

"Policia federal, maos em alto!/ Ferderal police, hands up!" I say triumphantly and step in front of them with my gun pointed at Mauro's head.

"You fucking did this? How?" he spits.

"I did. And you are arrested."

The police cars stops behind me with squeaking wheels. The men are storming out of the cars and putting handcuffs on whoever they can catch.

Davi hands me a pair and I smile with utmost satisfaction as I tie them around Mauro's wrists. Who's laughing now?

This will surely be in the papers and since now we know the location of their warehouse and caught them red handed with the coke, Mauro will stay locked up at least some good months. Dad will love this for his campaign.

"Hey, can you handle this?" I scream towards Bruno and Davi.

"Sure," answers Bruno and walks towards me. "Dude, how the hell did this happen," he whispers so only I can hear. And how did you get here?"

"We were kidnapped and none of you assholes nor dad were concerned enough to look for us."

"Shit. But you turned the situation around amazingly. How did you bring a fucking building to collapse? There is no fire so it was no bomb."

"Well... Apparently if the concrete beams are very old and deteriorated, if you shoot the iron reinforcement from them to pieces, they collapse and so does the roof."

"That's pretty cool. How did you know? Wait, where is Roxana?"

"About that. I need to search for her."

Bruno's face turns stern and frightened.

"Fuck. Did Mauro sent her away before you could do something?"

"Nor precisely. Go with me to the office. I need your help. Davi can handle this." I signal Davi that we are leaving.

On the drive back I tell him what happened and make sure that if Davi finds out, his balls will be only decorative.

He seems rather shook by the story and very silent.

"Hey, focus. What are you thinking? Now get yourself together, sit at that desk and help me think where he would have brought her? You think they are at one of João's houses? Or some remote warehouse like this? Damn it Bruno, I hope it will not be too late."

"Thiago, I think you misunderstood the situation."

Bruno is a strange boy. Always was, not because he likes also boys and computers but because there is a way about him and how he views the world that is slightly different.

"Why do you say that?"

He turns to the computer and starts making several searches.

"Why the hell are you searching hospitals?"

"Because I think that's where he brought her. He told you that."

"He was most probably lying."

"I don't think so. From what we have seen so far he acts according to what he says. He told you to not go against Mauro because he is crazy and guess what, Mauro acted crazy." Bruno's tone is as always very calm and logical, so much it annoys me. "Bingo..." he whispers. "Here. Someone with an explicitly hidden identity, a female in her twenties, was admitted to the hospital with several wounds including one from bullets, an hour ago."

"Indeed... But why would he?" I mutter.

Bruno just smiles to himself.

"Why does he do exactly what he says? Or rather why did he bother to save the girl that inflicted a mortal wound on him?"

"Well yeah..."

"I don't know but if I were to make a guess, I think this oddly heroic side is part of who he is. He went against his allies. They don't know that but they could. That's politically bad for him."

"Heroic my ass."

"Or stated differently, I think he likes her."

Now when he says the words it feels like something clicks in my head.

"You think he...?"

"I don't know but you saw how many bodyguards were around him all the time at the party and you said he shot those tiny things with insane precision and was even further away than you were. How do you think Roxana could have shot that guy and survived if it wasn't in a moment when there weren't any bodyguards and when he wasn't in a position to defend himself. It's obviously not certain but given how he acted now that makes most sense."

My mouth gaps open. Several details bombard my head: the stupid signet ring, or how she didn't want to tell me his name. It wasn't because she was afraid, it was because she didn't want me to go against him. Morality is subjective, she said. It might as well be if you were sucking dicks of several mobsters. Bile starts boiling in my stomach.

"T, what's wrong?"

"You just tell me that my girlfriend used to fuck this guy, what she clearly never mentioned and you ask me what's wrong? I am dating the whore of the Italian mob. That's wrong."

"Dating her is a choice. Nobody is stoping you to break up."

"Yeah. Nobody is..."

Bruno insists to drive me to that hospital. It's probably for the best. On the way I phone Davi.

T:"Done?"

D:"Yeah. This is huge, T. You will be in all newspapers tomorrow."

T:"Listen, I need you to do something for me."

D:"After today, everything you want, boss. Shoot."

T:"I want you to go to dad's place and get Dani."

"What for?" Bruno frown and nudges me from the side.

D: "The fuck should I do with him? If you want me to babysit so you can fuck, suck it. That kid can talk for hours."

T: "No. Roxana said he should go into a witness protection program and that's exactly what you are going to do."

D:"Sure. On it." I can feel his smile on the other side.

"What was that?" asks Bruno. His tone is openly disapproving.

"Nothing. Just looking out for the kid."

"Sure..."

A much to expensive car to belong to a random citizen is parked right in front of the entrance of the hospital. Prick.

Inside are several bodyguards that speak Italian. I am definitely in the right place.

When I ask the lady at the reception about my girlfriend that was brought here hours before and describe Roxana, I make sure she knows who I am. She is flustered.

"Ah. So that's why we were told to not put her name anywhere."

"Who said that?"

"The lawyer that came with the men that brought her. I assume, they are your bodyguards. Though at first we were confused because the one that was holding her acted as if he were her boyfriend."

"Sure he did...," I hiss.

She shows me to the room. The two bodyguards at the door frown at me but don't do anything to stop me to enter.

There is a doctor in the room. The door is open but I stop to listen and don't enter just yet.

"Desculpe.Só queríamos dizer que o sangramento parou sozinho. Manteremos o paciente aqui durante a noite para observação. Parece tão bom quanto possível na situação em questão, mas lamentamos muito a perda do seu filho./ I am sorry to interrupt. We just wanted to tell you that the bleeding stoped on its own. We will keep the patient here over night for observation. It seems as fine as it can be in the given situations, we are only very sorry for the loss of your child."

Interrupt? Yes, he was interrupting something, wasn't he? The motherfucker's hands are on her face and she doesn't seem bothered, less bothered then she was many time when I touched her.

But despite that, the doctor's words hit me. The loss of your child. She was actually pregnant. The devil in my head is whispering 'with whom?'.

"I will let you two alone," he says very calmly and walks past me outside throwing me an ambiguous glance.

He had been here with her the whole damn time. There wasn't anything like murdering happening, the way she looked at him was... Not that.

She lifts her eyes and looks me up and down as I walk to her bed.

"Are you okay?" she whispers. "I was afraid something would happen to you."

"Were you now?" I ask rather coldly. "You weren't looking particularly concerned about me."

"I was... Uh... Trying to process what the doctor said. I feel awful. I know I didn't want a child but it hurts more than I ever imagined. It was there. It existed and now it isn't because I haven't cared enough about it. I haven't care at all. I was an awful mother before even understanding I was one. And God, I am just awful..."

"Can't say otherwise. Now you have a better idea about how it feels for someone to just not want you or just not want your child? Yes, you weren't particularly good."

"I am so sorry. I am so awfully sorry. You were right. I was completely selfish. But... It wasn't because I would want or love it, it was because I thought I couldn't give it a good a good life, not even a safe life... Thiago, I am so sorry."

"As you should be. And the fuck was that with him?!"

I turn and walk out. I don't want to say anything more because I am upset and it shows.

And as if it wasn't enough already the prick is still not gone. What the fuck does he still want here? Nobody fucking invited him, quite the opposite. His annoying bug eyes are scanning me. Then without seeing it coming I am pressed against the wall.

He whispers slowly, but his voice is spiked with obvious anger, "You are going to go back in there and apologize for what you said to her. Make it very convincing. And you are going to be the best damn boyfriend the world has ever seen if you still want to stay in one piece. Capisci?"

"Get your hands off me, you psychopath, if you don't want to be arrested!" I scream back and try to push him away. It feels like he is trained in combat by the way I am gripped. So not only preppy, suit wearing pretty boy. Why does this surprise me after the way he shoots.

"You are welcome to try," he spits and walks away not even trying to concede his mood.

Entitled prick. This will not stay this way. This time he is indeed driving away, thanks God.

Without thinking, I press call. Davi answers after the first ring. In a vomit of words I tell him what just happened.

D:"Well break up with her. Obviously. If she want to fuck with gangsters let her. She will see that this guy views her only as a toy and she will get what she deserves. The end."

T:"No!" I say, completely upset. I hoped he will understand but he clearly doesn't.

D:"Bro, what do you want to hear from me if that isn't, 'fuck her'?"

T:"I don't want her to be with someone else, least of all with him."

D:"Well then plant a baby in her and there will be always something tying you. I mean don Vitor will make sure you will get custody don't matter what so she will never leave you. But it seems you already tried that and failed. Bah... Ok let me think. But for the record she isn't even that hot to justify all the bother."

T:"You are awful."

D: "Yeah, yeah sure but who needs my help now? I was thinking... In the meantime you can get the other kid. He already worships the ground you walk on, so tell him about the awful, evil mafia boss and his whore of a sister..."

I take a deep breath before entering her room again.

She acknowledgeds my presence but doesn't say anything.

"Roxana..."

"Can I have your phone? I need to talk to Dani and apparently I need to still stay here till tomorrow. You should get checked up too."

"I need you to apologize."

"For what?" She has the audacity to ask. Something snaps in me. For fucking a gangster, for not wanting to have my child...

"Dani is in a witness protection program just as you asked."

Blood drains from her face visibly.

"I want to talk to my brother right now!"

"He is fine," I tell her. "And now I need you to apologize and behave."

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Not much action here but it will follow. Speculations?